Bed-sofa



March 11, 1969 P. CAVALLI 3,432,203

BED- SOFA Filed Nov. 8, 1967 Sheet Z of 2 I 3 Fig.3

INVENTOR POMPEO cAvALu BY M w ATTORNEYS P. CAVALLI BED-SOFA Filed Nov. 8, 1967 Z of 2 Sheet ATTORNEYS 3,432,203 BED-SOFA Pompeo Cavalli, 4 Via Don Minzoni, Bologna, Italy Filed Nov. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 681,502 Claims priority, application Italy, Nov. 8, 1966,

26,801A/ 66 US. Cl. 297-109 Int. Cl. A47c 13/00, 17/04 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A piece of furniture having a chair frame with a base, sides and bottom, a folding four part bed frame pivoted to the chair frame and serially pivoted to each other, the first and second bed parts being of the same length to overlie each other while folded, the third bed part being pivoted to said chair frame sides, the fourth bed frame part being disposed to slide on said base during the extending movement, a stop to support the second bed frame part in the collapsed position, and a mattress foldable to an S shape when collapsed on said folding frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to convertible furniture and more particularly a piece of furniture which may be converted at will into a bed or a chair, such as a bed-sofa or easy chair.

The main object of the present invention is to provide such a piece of furniture which is robust, simple and attractive and may be converted easily into a bed or seat, conversion into a seat being possible when the bed is prepared, that is to say, having sheets and blankets spread out on the mattress and tucked in underneath, so that after the seat has been converted to a bed, the latter is ready to be occupied.

SUMMARY According to the present invention a piece of furniture comprises a chair frame having a base, side pieces and a back, a folding frame having four parts pivotally interconnected in series and disposed in the extended position to form a bed frame connected to the chair frame, first and second frame parts pivoted together at their ends and of substantially the same length, the second frame part in the collapsed position resting horizontally beneath the first frame part with one end on a stop on the chair frame to form thechair seat and tilting forwardly when being extended, a third frame part pivoted to the free end of the second part and disposed in the collapsed position to form a vertical lower front of the chair seat, a fourth frame part pivoted to the free end of the third part and disposed horizontally in the collapsed position and displaceable on the base during the extending movement, and a unitary mattress folded in the collapsed position to an S shape with two parts return bent to lie above and below the first and second frame parts respectively and a part return bent to underlie the lower of the first two mattress parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view partly in cross-section of an easy chair convertible into a bed, shown folded to form a chair;

3,432,203 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 FIGS. 2 to 4 show different intermediate positions of aha easy chair of FIG. 1 as it is being converted into a FIG. 5 is a side view partly in cross section of the chair of FIGS, 1 to 4 when converted into a bed; and,

FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically a stop or catch disposed close to a hinge between two parts of the frame of the chair of FIGS. 1 to 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings the chair has a chair frame and a foldable bed frame connected thereto. The chair frame is in the form of a box with two side walls F, a back S and a bottom P. Sidewardly outwardly folding arms B are connected with the upper edge of the side walls F recessed in the front part of the edge. In FIG. 1 the arms B are shown in the open position for use when the easy chair is in use as an easy chair. The arms B are shown in a dotted line in FIG. 5 folded outwards in the position they occupy when the chair is converted to a bed. The arms B may be removably or fixedly connected to the side walls F of the frame. The box type frame of the chair is open at the top and at the front.

The foldable bed frame consists of four frame parts 1, 2, 3, 4 hinged together in series in the longitudinal direction of the bed frame. The first and second parts 1, 2 of the bed frame are substantially the same length and are interconnected by a hinge 5. On the free front end of the first part 1 of the bed frame two legs 9 are fastened which carry a cover plate A fitted to their front side. A further supporting leg 10 is pivotally disposed on each side of the frame on the hinge 5 between the parts 1, 2 of the bed frame. A bush 11 longitudinally displaceable on each supporting leg 10, is hingedly connected by two guide arms 12, one to the part 1 of the bed frame and the other to the second part 2 of the bed frame.

The second frame part 2 is disposed with its end remote from the first frame part 1 tiltable about an axis 6 on the side walls F. The third frame part 3 is also pivoted about the axis 6 which thus also forms the horizontal tilting axis of the second fr'ame part 2, and the connecting link between the second and third frame parts 2, 3. The fourth frame part 4 is connected to the other end of the third frame part 3 by the pivot 7. The fourth frame part 4 has an upwardly extending hand rail 104 on its rear free end. The third frame part '3 is at least of a length equal to double the thickness of the mattress M used with the chair. The fourth frame part 4 is preferably considerably shorter than the first and second frame parts 1, 2 and is for example about the same length as the third fr'ame part 3.

The parts 1, 2, 3, 4 of the frame are provided close to their hinges 5, 6, 7, with stops which allow the foldable bed frame to be collapsed unhindered from the bed forming position (FIG. 5) into the seating position (-FIGS. 1 and 2) yet abut each other in the open bed forming position of FIG. 5, as soon as two parts of the bed frame, hinged to each other, come to rest in the same plane.

These stops (FIG. 6) form the hinge 7 between the third and fourth frame bed parts 3, 4. FIG. 6 shows the ends of two associated lateral longitudinal supports 30, 40 of frame parts 3, 4 respectively hinged to each other by the pivot 7. The longitudinal supports 30, 40 have hollow profiles with rectangular cross-section. The longitudinal support 30 is formed open at its end portion 103 on the upper side, i.e., is U-shaped open at the top. The longihudinal support 40 at least at its end is narrower than the portion 103 and engages in the end 103, and is coupled to the side shanks of the U-shape end section 103 by the pivot 7. The pivot 7 is at such a distance from the end of the support -40 and from the lower cross bar of the U-shaped end section 103 that the longitudinal support 40 abuts against the lower cross bar when the two supports 30, 40 lie in the same straight lines eJg. when the two frame parts 3, 4 are in the same plane. On the other hand the longitudinal support 40 can swing freely upwards relative to the support 30 as seen in FIG. 6. The two frame parts 3, 4 can thus swing outwards reciprocally upwards about the pivot 7.

Similarly arranged stops are provided adjacent the pivot 6 between the second and third frame parts 2, 3 and a similarly arranged stop but operating in the opposite direction is provided close to the pivot between the first and second frame parts 1, 2. Both frame parts 1, 2 can thus swing outwards reciprocally and downwards about the pivot 5.

When the frame is folded in the seating position (FIGS. 1 and 2), the second frame part 2 is disposed inwardly about the axis 6 into the frame of the easy chair and assumes a horizontal position, resting, with its end portions 202 projecting outwards from the pivot 5 on a supporting stop 8 fixed to the rear wall S. The first frame part 1 lies directly on and is supported by the second part 2. The third part 3 assumes a vertical position in the front lower part of the frame of the easy chair. The fourth part 4 lies horizontally on the base wall P. The cover plate A fixed by supporting legs on the front end of the upper part of the frame part 1, closes the lower front part of the frame of the easy chair and forms a front covering for the folded bed frame. The first uppermost frame part 1 together with the second frame part lying below it and supported at 6 and 8, forms the seat of the easy chair. The pivotable supporting legs assume a horizontal position parallel to the folded frame parts 1, 2. In this position the supporting legs 10 together wit-h their guide plates 12 lie in corresponding recesses (not shown) in the frame parts 1, 2. These recesses may be hollows in the longitudinal supports of the parts 1, 2 lying one above the other, or produced by a partly U-shaped design of the cross-sections of these longitudinal supports.

The mattress M is in one piece, e.g., made from. foam rubber or the like, and is bent over substantially in the form of an S in the folded seated position of the bed frame, having a section which covers the first upper frame part 1, a section passing beneath the second frame part 2, and a section lying on the fourth frame part 4. Between the rear wall S of the boxed-in frame of the easy chair and the pivot 5 a space is provided corresponding substantially to the thickness of the mattress.

The folded bed frame is covered in its front portion by a seating surface D, preferably upholstered, loosely fixed and removable, which overlaps the front end of the upper section of the mattress. The chair back C of the easy chair, likewise loosely fixed and removable, is formed as a rigid box, upholstered at least at the front, and open below, for receiving at least one head cushion G.

For converting the easy chair into a bed, the seating surface D and chair back C are removed, and the arm rests B are collapsed sidewardly outwards, as in FIG. 2. The uppermost frame part 1 is seized at the front and pulled and the second part 2 pivoted thereto, is thus tipped forwardly about the axis 6, whereby the first part 1 rises as seen in FIG. 3. At the same time the third and fourth parts 3, 4 are displaced backwards in the chair frame and automatically opened out, whereby the fourth part 4 of the bed slides on the base wall P. As soon however as the tipp'able second frame part 2 adjusts itself into the same plane as the third part 3, the latter is moved through the stops close to the hinge 6 and is swivelled upwardly about the axis 6. Likewise, the fourth part 4 is moved by the third part 3 over the stops close to the pivot 7 and is swivelled upwardly about the axis 6 as soon as the parts 3, 4 come to rest in the same plane, as in FIG. 4. The upturned, second frame part 2 now oscillates together with the opened frame parts 3, 4, lying in the same plane, about the axis 6 until the first frame part 1 with its legs 9 come to rest on the base. At the same time, the first frame part 1 is completely opened out with respect to the second frame part 2 about the pivot 5, so that the frame assumes its bed forming position in FIG. 5, in which all four frame parts 1, 2, 3, 4, lie in the same horizontal plane.

When the bed frame is opened up from the folded seated position in FIGS. 1 and 2 in to the open position of FIG. 5, the guide arms 12 are spread open, whereby the bushes 11 are displaced upwards on the supporting legs 10 which consequently retain their medial position bisecting the angle between the frame parts 1 and 2, and adjust themselves to a position between the pivots 5 and the ground to support the pivots 5 and thus the first and second frame parts 1 and 2.

With the opening out of the bed frame, the mattress M is also unfolded so that it automatically assumes its spread position out on the open bed frame. The hollow back support C is conversely inserted from above in the space formed between the open bed frame and the rear wall S of the frame of the easy chair, and forms the bed head board. The end of the bed frame formed from the parts 3, 4 lying between the side walls F of the frame of the easy chair, is used preferably as the head of the bed, as may be seen from the position of the head cushion G in FIG. 6.

The front, first frame part 1 is raised somewhat for collapsing the bed frame, that is when converting the bed into a chair, and pressed against the frame of the easy chair, the movements described above, taking place in the reverse sequence. The mattress M is left on the bed frame and folded together therewith, as it is prevented by the rail 104 from being displaced on the bed frame against the frame of the easy chair. The displacement of the mattress M on the bed frame is prevented by the kink formed at the beginning of the folding operation, between the first and second parts 1 and 2. Moreover, the mattress M may be fastened to the bed frame by any desired means, such as upstanding pins, seams or transverse cords or belts.

When the bed is prepared, that is to say, with sheets, blankets, coverlets etc., spread out on the mattress M, the bed frame may be collapsed and then the sheets and blankets become invisible when the bed frame is folded, as the uppermost section of the mattress and bed respectively, which form the seating surface of the chair, is covered by the reclining surface D and the back support C.

In a modification a bed sofa is provided by using two independent foldable bed frames as herein described side by side in a sofa frame or a single foldable bed frame may be used having the width of a double bed.

I claim:

1. A piece of convertible furniture comprising a chair frame having a base, side pieces and a back, a stop on the back, a folding frame pivoted between said side pieces and having four parts pivotally interconnected in series collapsible within the chair frame and extendable to form a bed frame, a first bed frame part, a second bed frame part pivoted to said first bed frame part, said first and second bed frame parts overlying each other in horizontal planes with said second part supported on said stop in the collapsed position, said second bed frame part tilting forwardly to the extended position, a third bed frame part pivoted to the free end of said second bed frame part and disposed vertically in the collapse position -to form the lower front of the chair seat, a fourth bed frame part pivoted to the free end of said third bed frame part, disposed horizontally in the collapsed position and displaceable on said base when moving to the extended position, and a unitary mattress folded to an S shape in the collapsed position with two parts return bent to lie above and below said first and second bed frame parts respectivelyand a part bent to underlie the lower of said first two parts.

2. A piece of convertible furniture according to claim 1 wherein the adjacent end portions of at least two of said bed frame parts have abutment elements pivoted together, one of said abutment elements being pivoted to the other of said elments shaped that in the extended position said elements abut with said first and second bed frame parts disposed in substantially the same plane,

3. A piece of furniture according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second bed frame parts has on either side a longitudinal member, and on each side of said frame parts one of said members is pivoted to its adjacent longitudinal member at a point displaced from the end thereof, the former overlapping a portion of the latter to form a stop in the extended portion of said folding frame.

4. A piece of furniture according to claim 1 wherein legs are provided on the free forward end of said first bed frame part, and folding legs are provided adjacent said pivot of said first and second bed frame parts and lying parallel to said parts in the collapsed position and movable automatically and said first and second bed frame parts move to the extended position to form legs supporting said pivot.

S. A piece of furniture according to claim 4 wherein said front legs are covered by a plate secured to the front thereof and which in the collapsed position forms a lower front part of said chair seat.

6. A piece of furniture according to claim 4 wherein a bush is slidably mounted on said folding legs and two guide arms are pivoted to said bush, one of said arms being pivoted to said first bed frame part and the other of said arms being pivoted to said second frame part.

7. A piece of furniture according to claim 1 wherein an upwardly extending rail member is secured to the rear end of said fourth bed frame part to act as a stop to movement of said mattress during collapsing said folding frame.

8. A piece of furniture according to claim 1 wherein said mattress part overlapping said first bed frame part in the collapsed position forms the chair seat and movable member is provided for disposition thereon, and a movable open ended hollow member having its open end downwardly facing is disposed in a space behind the folding frame in the collapsed position and is provided to form the chair back and a storage for a cushion.

9. A piece of furniture according to claim 1 wherein displaceable arm rests are mounted on the upper portions of said sides of said chair frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,352,989 7/ 1944 Woller. 3,107,366 8/1963 Barabas 5l3 X 3,145,049 8/1964 Duke 297- 3,296,632 1/1967 Hofiman 5l3 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

